Planches Contact Festival
The contemporary photography festival of Deauville, between artistic residencies and open-air exhibitions
About Planches Contact
Established in 2010, the Planches Contact festival turns Deauville into a living laboratory for contemporary photography every autumn. Built on the concept of artistic residencies, it invites around twenty international photographers each year to create original works, which are then displayed outdoors on the Planches boardwalk, on the beach, and throughout the Franciscaines cultural center from October to January.
Planches Contact: Deauville, a land of photography
Since 2010, the Planches Contact festival has transformed Deauville into a unique hub for photographic creation. Born from a simple idea—inviting photographers to offer a contemporary perspective on Deauville and its surrounding region—the festival has established itself over fifteen editions as one of the premier photography events in France.
A festival built on artistic residencies
Each year, around twenty international photographers, ranging from established artists to emerging talents, are invited to Deauville for residencies to conceive, develop, and experience their projects. The resulting works are then showcased through open-air exhibitions along the famous Planches boardwalk, on the beach, along the seafront, and within the Franciscaines cultural center.
Since its inception, the festival has featured 170 artists, produced hundreds of original works, and welcomed tens of thousands of visitors. The open-air photography trail is free and accessible to everyone, running for over two months from October to January.
A rich and varied program
Beyond the exhibitions, Planches Contact offers meet-and-greets, workshops, panel discussions, screenings, auctions, and a photography competition. Since 2025, the festival has been directed by Lionel Charrier, photo editor at Libération, and Jonas Tebib, who have further elevated its artistic ambition and international reach.
Planches Contact — edition 2026
The 17th edition of the Planches Contact Festival will take place from October 17, 2026 to January 3, 2027 in Deauville. For this edition, Normandy becomes a muse: around twenty established and emerging photographers are invited for creative residencies to offer a fresh perspective on the Norman territory, in original works exhibited outdoors on Les Planches, on the beach, and at the heart of Les Franciscaines.
17th Edition — Autumn 2026
The Planches Contact Festival returns from October 17, 2026 to January 3, 2027 for its 17th edition. True to its founding principle, the festival hosts around twenty photographers in artistic residency in Deauville between February and July 2026, invited to create a photographic series closely linked to the city and Normandy.
The theme of this edition places Normandy at the heart of creation: invited artists explore the soul of the territory through commissions, residencies, and exhibitions. The winners of the Prix de la Jeune Création Photographique and the bourse photo4food, who inaugurate the creative residencies, will be announced at the end of January 2026.
The full program and the list of invited photographers will be unveiled during 2026 on the official website of the festival.
Highlights Planches Contact 2026
- 17th edition of the festival
- Artistic residencies and open-air exhibitions
- Program to be announced during 2026
Prices Planches Contact 2026
Practical information — Planches Contact
Practical Information
Location
Les Planches, the beach, the seafront, and Les Franciscaines, 14800 Deauville
Access
- By train: Trouville-Deauville station (Paris Saint-Lazare, approx. 2h)
- By car: A13 then A132 towards Deauville
Prices
- Open-air trail: free access
- Exhibitions at Les Franciscaines: access included in the museum ticket
Contact
- Official website: planchescontact.fr
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Where does it take place — Planches Contact
Les Planches et Les Franciscaines
Les Planches de Deauville, 14800 Deauville